'Return to dialogue': India urges restraint after ships attacked amid uncertainty over Iran-US deal

India on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in West Asia following fresh attacks on commercial shipping, urging all sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.In a statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said the latest developments threatened regional stability and the free flow of global trade and energy supplies."India is deeply concerned over the recent attacks and escalation of tensions in West Asia, which have followed fresh targeting of commercial shipping transiting international waterways in the region," the MEA said.The ministry warned that "these developments risk undermining regional peace, security and stability."Calling for de-escalation, the MEA said, "India calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and ensure protection of civilians as well as the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies and commerce."It further urged the conflicting sides to pursue diplomacy, saying, "We urge the parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict."India's statement came after the United States launched large-scale military strikes on Iranian military targets, with US officials describing the operation as significantly more extensive than previous attacks. According to Axios, an American official said the operation was "four or five times bigger in scope and power" than strikes carried out ten days earlier.According to the US military, the strikes targeted Iranian military installations near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz after Tehran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels transiting the waterway.Iran responded by launching strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, according to reports. Missile alerts were sounded in both countries, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard acknowledged targeting US military installations in the two Gulf states.Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was effectively over. "As far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey when asked whether the truce remained intact. He added, "It's just a waste of time dealing with them."Trump also said, "I'll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don't see it. I don't like these people."Negotiations to reach a final deal had been due to start after Khamenei’s burial and focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. But the new attacks throw that into question, though neither country immediately signaled they’d walk away from the negotiating table.“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.